is not easy on the human body. In Florida, as in most states. about one in five women didn’t put on enough weight. More go the other way: Nearly half of the women put on too much weight.

In other words, it’s not easy to figure out how much to eat for two.

The CDC’s advice includes considering

dietary goals, physical activity, routine self-monitoring of weight, and frequent provider contact. Most women need to consume an additional 340–450 calories per day only during the second and third trimesters to support the metabolic demands of pregnancy; dietary goals might be helpful to meet these additional energy requirements. Physical activity, when combined with dietary goals, has been found to be an effective strategy in preventing excessive [gestational weight gain]. Pregnant women should engage in 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking.

While pregnancy itself is a temporary matter, gestational weight gain can lead to sicker babies and mothers; it can also lead to long-term problems of obesity for both mother and children, the CDC says.

Doctors can provide some help. The Institutes Of Medicine also have a handy guide. The fastest summary of all is the five common myths pamphlet, which tells you among other things that women of normal weight should be adding 25 to 35 pounds.

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